Elders
Ray Schmidt
Ray is a retired Captain of the United States Air Force. He has been a Christian for 76 years and a member of New Horizons Christian Church since 1966. Ray has been a Deacon for 6 years and an Elder for 22 years. He taught Bible School for 10 years, choir member for 34 years, and has Supervised Vacation Bible School for 2 years. Ray and his wife, Eva C. (Barker) Schmidt (deceased) have 4 grown daughters.
Philip Walter
Phil Walter is our Senior Minister. His wife, Susan, is a high school teacher. They have served New Horizons for over eleven years.
Phil has been in vocational ministry since 1967. He is a graduate of Atlanta Christian College and Lincoln Christian Seminary. He has served as a pastor in several churches, a church administrator in a large church, the Administrative Director of the National Church Growth Research Center, and the Director of the Church Growth Mission.
Phil and Susan were married June, 1969. They have five grown children and eight grandchildren. They believe God led them to this ministry and they give Him the credit for the successes along the way.
Besides spending time with his family, Phil enjoys golf and walks through nature. But, his passion is people. The love of God has touched his life and he wants to share it with others. He encourages everyone else at New Horizons to do the same.
Laverne White
Laverne is the Treasurer of New Horizons. He and his wife Cheri have been married since 1983 and have 3 children. Cheri is Chairman of Missions Ministry, a member of Membership Ministry, Choir and the Women’s Ministry. They have been with New Horizons since 1985.
Laverne has been a Sunday School Teacher, a board member at Temple Christian Academy, involved with Cupbearer Ministry, Membership Ministry, Member of Property Management Ministry, Choir Member and President of Son Seekers. Laverne has a degree in Photography and has also served our great country as a Chaplain’s Assistant for the Army during the Vietnam War. Laverne enjoys photography and has his own business, Portraits by Laverne (http://portraitsbylaverne.com/).
Deacons
Gerald Bracht
Gerald is our Music Ministry sound technician. His wife Mary Beth is involved in our Music Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Nursery/Sunday School worker and a member of Home Builders Life Group. They have been with New Horizons since 2004.
Gerald is involved in our Men’s Group, Sunday school and Home Builders Life Group. Some of his hobbies include sound technology, which he finds useful in his service to God’s Kingdom. He also enjoys bow hunting, computers and old cars. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
Todd Leda
Todd is a Deacon at New Horizons. He and his wife Loretta have been married since 1984 and have 4 children. They have been with New Horizons since 2005.
Todd is a member of our Men’s Group and has been involved in other Church’s for Youth Ministry, VBS Coordinator, Treasurer. Todd has also been involved in Day of Caring, WOHS Teach-In, Math Mentoring and Junior Achievement.
Paul LePore
Paul’s assignments this year have been: Outreach and Evangelism Leader, Internet Ministry, and Leader of Worship Ministry at Superior Residence (ALF).
Frank Nietrzeba
Frank is a Deacon at New Horizons. He and his wife Jay have been married since 1984 and have 2 children. Jay is our technical coordinator for Sunday Worship. She designs our power point presentations for all of our worship celebrations, participates in drama presentations, and she sings in our Choir at Christmas time. They have been with New Horizons since 1999.
Frank coordinates the usher’s for our Sunday Worship Celebration. He enjoys the beach, playing tennis and racquetball and watching football. He also enjoys “hacking” a golf ball around.
Please contact Frank or Jay @ 407-292-4846.
Other Ministries
Music Ministry
Alison LePore
Alison is our Worship Leader at New Horizons. She and her husband Paul have been married since 2004. Paul is also involved in our Music Ministry, Men’s Group, Design Team and a member of Home Builders Life Group. Alison has been with New Horizons since 1996.
Alison is involved in our Missions Ministry and our Worship Design Team. Some of her hobbies include playing the piano, singing and cooking. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children.
Please contact Alison via email alicat07@gmail.com for more information regarding our Music Ministry.
Youth and Children’s Ministry
Zach and Christine Steele
Zach and Christine are our leaders of our Youth and Children’s Ministry at New Horizons. Zach and Christine have been married since 2006. They have been with New Horizons since 2003. Zach enjoys playing guitar, golf and the Orlando Magic. Christine enjoys reading, movies, art and has “mad skills” with the hula hoop. They enjoy raising their dog, Ringo.
Please contact Christine or Zach via email zsteele20@yahoo.com for more information regarding our Youth and Children’s Ministry.
Men’s Ministry
David McCrickard
David leads New Horizons Men’s Group. As stated above, David graduated from Florida Christian College in 1991 with a degree in Preaching and Christian Education and has served at several churches in Youth Ministry roles as well as teaching at a Christian School.
Please contact David via email David.McCrickard@gmail.org for more information regarding our Men’s Ministry.
Women’s Ministry
Donna Russell
Donna leads New Horizons Women’s Group. She has been with New Horizons since 2004. Donna is involved in our Music Ministry, Choir, Design Team, Missions and Children’s Music. She has been involved in Children’s Music since the age of 18. Donna has 2 grown children and a grandson. Donna attends Women’s Ministry at Lake Aurora annually and graduated Mt. Aloysius College in 1999. She enjoys spending time with her 2 cats, Queeny and Sadie. Donna runs her own business, Winter Garden Notary (www.wgnotary.com).
Please contact Donna via email djrussell22@yahoo.com or call 407-690-6557 for more information regarding our Women’s Ministry.
Church Staff
Joanne Clingman
Joanne is our Administrative Assistant, but she is the oil that keeps the offices running smoothly at New Horizons. She started attending New Horizons in 1980, when it was still Pine Hills Christian Church. When not at work, you can find Joanne at the Orlando Magic games, shopping, or helping her children and grandchildren.
Call Joanne:
407-654-5050 ext. 10